9 miles long and no more than a mile wide at any point, this slender islet aligns with the local geology and with the loch itself, emerging from the sea with a low-rise landscape of stepped basalt that breaks down into rich, fertile soil. 

A few hundred years ago the island was carpeted with oak, since then much reduced by grazing. Still, there remain attractive pockets of chestnut, lime and oak, and the wide-open spaces give unfamiliar and striking views up to Glencoe and Ben Nevis and down the loch towards Mull and the smaller islands.

Most of these photos were taken during our recce in January this year, when the winter sun brought out a splendid display of rich colours on moorland, hills and bladderwrack.

A day walking on Lismore has now been included in our itinerary ‘Oban and the Islands’ (replacing the Black Lochs walk which, though full of interest, doesn’t match the wild beauty of Lismore. 

This also means that we include another day when we benefit from the superb ferry services here, making the most of what Oban can offer as a launch-point for island exploration.